Your Opinion - Will ITG Ever get its license back?

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bapfan

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I've been out of the hobby pretty much since ITG lost its license to produce NHL cards.

I've liked what they've done in recent years considering they've had no license, but the cards aren't for me, from a collectability standpoint.

Do you think they'll ever get their license back? Or has that ship sailed?

Comments?
 
Personally I can see it only doing them good. Their design still beats out UD any day of the week so adding a few logos and full player shots couldn't hurt. Some of the best cards have that little logo. It just completes the overall appeal imo.
 
I can't see them getting it back in the next 2 or 3 years but would love to see them in the mix. Their cards are made for the purists and not the fly-by-night collectors that have been in the hobby since Crosby came in the picture (which might be part of why they haven't had part of the bigger market like UD & Panini).

If ITG gets into the market, they would definitely have to show that they can sell out like UD, Topps, Panini to the big retail operations like Walmart and others. If they are relucant to, which I hope is the case, they may not be "worthy" enough to warrant a license to play with the big boys. (It's all a $$ game.) If that is the case, they choose integrity over money, I would love to see the true hobbyist, the people who love their products and their moral responsibility, to show them more support than that they have been giving them by petitioning the league to support the introduction of ITG bck into the hobby, NHLPA & NHL backed.
 
I wonder if we put a Petition together, got say 5,000 signatures and sent it to the NHLPA/NHL if that would open their eyes, ITG is head and shoulders above the competition as is, imagine what they would do with a license!

that is if and only IF Dr.Price would want a license in the first place, i remember him saying he was offered one last year (?), and he said it was a horrible offer that would have put ITG out of business..
 
gobuffalo2331 said:
Man this subject has been beaten to death...
Click to expand...

My thought exactly.

ITG is doing great without the help of the NHLPA. Would it be nice if they got a license? Sure but it would cost a pretty penny and they'd be forced to play "by the rules" which might mean many changes to the products we have come to love.

Personally, I like the way things are. Let's not mess with a good thing
 
RocketRichard said:
I wonder if we put a Petition together, got say 5,000 signatures and sent it to the NHLPA/NHL if that would open their eyes,
Click to expand...

No. No it wouldn't. The only thing that makes the NHLPA open their eyes is money. And in the matter of licensing, the NHLPA wags the dog.

When the first exclusive was announced in 05, there was a massive email campaign put together on the Beckett boards and HI. This was accompanied by a hefty petition in itself. Nobody received so much as a form letter of acknowledgement.

The NHLPA does not give a frosted tinker's cuss what the customer base thinks, as long as the cheques roll in. At best, they give a small damn if it affects sales or threatens licensing fees...but they'll talk to the licensors, distributors and stores before they ever stoop to speaking with collectors.

And if anyone from the NHLPA is reading this and takes umbrage: Boo fricking hoo, buddy. Your behaviour towards the collecting public speaks louder than your outrage.
 
First of all, my apologies to those who think the subject has been beaten to death.

I do agree that it comes down to money. A license would probably cost a pretty penny, but their sales would likely go up to compensate.

As far as them doing well without the license, I'm not so sure about that. Headshot cards and other 'creative' ways around showing an NHL logo don't do anything for me.

I loved their cards when they were in their heyday back in the late 90's / early 2000's. I'd love to see them come back to that someday.
 
Quick question. The stamped ITG cards like one I saw on ebay that says "The Summit 1/1" are not the pack pulled 1/1 correct? Just a promotion card?
 
I think that ITG has done more than a great job even without its NHL-license.
ITG may lose their unique style if they managed to retrieve back the NHL-license I persume.

But I DO love their early 00's NHL-licensed cards....
 
bapfan said:
First of all, my apologies to those who think the subject has been beaten to death.

I do agree that it comes down to money. A license would probably cost a pretty penny, but their sales would likely go up to compensate.

As far as them doing well without the license, I'm not so sure about that. Headshot cards and other 'creative' ways around showing an NHL logo don't do anything for me.

I loved their cards when they were in their heyday back in the late 90's / early 2000's. I'd love to see them come back to that someday.
Click to expand...

I wasn't aware that a key indicator of a company's financial success was how aesthetically pleasing its product was to the eye of the beholder. I always thought that sales, revenues, etc. determined that type of thing.
 
RGM81 said:
I wasn't aware that a key indicator of a company's financial success was how aesthetically pleasing its product was to the eye of the beholder. I always thought that sales, revenues, etc. determined that type of thing.
Click to expand...

I thought Brian's participation in the hobby spoke to the success of ITG. Every time I see him or talk to him, he is happy.. That to me is the true indicator of success.
 
I have a somewhat related question. I haven't really collected since 2006 and I was surprised to see another company (Panini) have a license. What was it that happened that caused the NHL/NHLPA to give it to them? Or was it just a matter of money as well?
 
As I understand it, mostly money. A little bit NHLPA claiming to be concerned over customer choice/satisfaction.
 

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